: The title and concept were inspired by a series of children's books titled Dear God , which Partridge viewed as exploitative.

: Partridge initially conceived the song in a skiffle style but moved toward a sound reminiscent of the Beatles' "Rocky Raccoon". The final version features a "Gershwin-y" string section intended to evoke a bluesy, "Summertime" atmosphere.

XTC 's "Dear God," written by Andy Partridge, is one of the most polarizing and enduring tracks of the 1980s. Originally released as a B-side to the single "Grass" in 1986, it was excluded from the initial pressing of the album Skylarking because Partridge felt he had "failed" to capture the vastness of human belief in such a short song. However, intense radio play in the United States—driven by its controversial lyrics—forced a re-release of the album that included the track. The Inspiration and Composition

: A central thesis of the song is the idea that mankind created God, rather than the other way around: "Did you make mankind after we made you?".